Attachment for an oar



March 20, 1962 R. F. NOLAND ATTACHMENT FOR AN OAR Filed June 29, 1960 2/01/4120 E/Vo; AND

My 9 fl 7 TOAD/YE Y5 5 4 5 7, 2 W y 5 w W My M 1% 3 L United States Patent 3,025,538 ATTACHMENT FOR AN OAR Richard i t oiand, 218 Eushaway Road, Wayzata, Minn. Filed Liune 2S, 1960. Ser. No. 39,475 3 Claims. (Cl. 9--24) This invention relates to oars and more particularly to oars which are arranged and constructed so that the oars may also be readily used as push-poles.

An object of this invention is to provide a novel terminal oar structure. of simple and inexpensive construc tion, readily attachable to conventional oar construction for use in facilitating rowing with the oar and also permitting the oar to be used as a push-pole.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel and improved oar construction including terminal blade structure for facilitating rowing with the oar and also permitting the oar to be used as a push-pole, the terminal oar structure being arranged and constructed to reinforce the end of the oar blade so that any tendency for the end of the oar blade to become damaged is greatly minimized.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel and improved oar construction including terminal oar structure having a rowing surface which cooperates with the oar blade to facilitate rowing with the oar and which includes a thrust portion arranged transversely of the end of the oar to permit the oar to be used as a push-pole when it is so desired.

These and other objects and advantages of this invention will more fully appear from the following description, made in connection with the accompanying drawings. wherein like reference characters refer to the same or similar parts throughout the several views, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of my invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of a different embodiment of my invention; and

FIG. 4 is a view taken approximately along line 44 of FIG. 3 and looking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring now to the drawing and more specifically to FIGS. 1 and 2 in which the preferred embodiment of my invention is illustrated, it will be seen that my novel terminal oar structure 10 is secured to an oar 11. Oar 11, which is or" conventional construction, includes an elongate handle 12 and a substantially fiat blade 13 and may be formed of any suitable rigid material such as wood or the like. Blade 13 has opposed rowing surfaces 14 and 15 respectively and has a lower end edge 16 and it will be noted that the terminal oar structure 10 is secured to the oar blade 13 adjacent this edge 16.

Terminal oar structure 10 is preferably formed of a strong rigid material such as steel or the like and includes a rowing or water-propelling surface 17 which is disposed in angulated relation with respect to the surface 14 of the oar blade 13. This propelling blade 17 is bent as at 13 to define a substantially fiat transverse attachment strip 19 which in turn is provided with a plurality of apertures through whch bolts 29 extend. These bolts 20 extend through openings formed in the oar blade 13 and are retained in place by conventional lock nuts 2011 as best seen in FIG. 2. It will be noted that the particular angulated relation between the attachment strip 19 and the general plane of the rowing portion 17 is such that the rowing portion extends downwardly or outwardly and laterally from the surface 14 to which the attachment strip 19 is secured.

My novel terminal oar structure includes a flat thrust or pushing portion 21 which is integrally formed with the ice propelling portion 1'7. Referring now to FIG. 2, it will be seen that the thrust portion 21 is disposed in angulated relation with respect to the water-propelling portion 17 and that the bend or juncture line 22 actually defines the lowermost edge of the water-propelling portion 17 and the outer edge of the thrust portion 21. This bend or juncture is positioned in laterally spaced relation from the lowermost edge 16 of the oar blade 13. It will also be noted that thrust portion 21 is disposed substantially normal to the longitudinal axis of the oar.

The flat thrust portion 21 is also bent adjacent one edge thereof as at 23 to define a substantially narrow transverse attachment strip 24 which is suitably apertured for receiving attachment bolts 21} therethrough. These apertures in strip 24 are disposed in registering relation with corresponding apertures in the oar blade 13 and bolts 20 extend therethrough and are secured in place by conventional lock nuts 20a. It will be noted that attachment strip 24 is disposed in right-angular relationship with respect to thrust portion 21 and that the entire terminal oar structure 10 is of integral construction. It will also be noted that the water-propelling portion 17 of terminal oar structure 10 is provided with a plurality of elongate corrugations or ribs 25 which effectively reinforce the structure so that relatively light gauge or thin sheets of steel may be used. The thrust portion 21 is also provided with a plurality of outwardly extending projections 25 which may be formed by a punching operation or the like. The projections may be coated with a suitable plastic material 26 which forms a protective coating for the same and increases the coefiicient of friction of the thrust portion. Thus it will be seen that thrust portion 21 has a rough gripping surface to minimize slipping when the oar is used to push from a hard surface such as a rock or the like.

When the terminal oar structure 10 is secured to a conventional oar, the fiat thrust surface or portion 21 permits the oar to be readily used for a push-pole so that the oar can be used in launching or pushing a boat off sandy beaches and mud bottoms or the like. One of the problems that has long been associated with. duck hunting is the difficulty in gaining access to duck hunting areas. Actually the waters which water fowl frequent are relatively shallow and have deep soft silty bottoms. These particular areas while being accessible by boat, often times require pushing the boat rather than rowing which generally necessitates the use of specially designed pushing poles since conventional oars will merely sink into the oozy silt bottoms. It will be seen, however, that with my conventional terminal oar construction, the flat thrust portion 21 presents a relatively large pushing surface at the end of an oar to permit the oar to be readily used as a push pole. It will also be noted that the particular angulated relation between the water-propelling surface 17 and the blade surface 14 as best seen in FIG. 2, defines a rowing surface which is quite similar to the hook shape of racing or sculling oars and actually facilitates rowing with the oar since the rowing is made easier. Because of the particular open end configuration of my novel terminal ore structure, the water will readily enter the space between the thrust portion 17 and the rowing surface 14 so that the oar will be moved into and out of the water with very little effort since there is no buoyant effect exerted by my novel terminal structure.

Another embodiment of my invention is illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4 and includes a terminal oar structure 31) which is formed of suitable metallic material. Terminal oar structure 31} is shown attached to the conventional oar blade .13 adjacent the lowermost end 16 thereof and includes a substantially flat thrust portion 31. This thrust portion 31 is provided with a plurality of ears 32 positioned on either side of ears 33 of hinge 34 and pivotally secured thereto by a pivot pin 35. Hinge line 34 is serowing position.

cured to ear blade 13 to permit terminal oar structure to pivot between the full line position in FIG. 3 to the dotted line position.

Referring now to FIG. 3, it will be seen that the terminal oar structure 3% is connected for pivotal movement between a rowing position indicated by dotted line configuration and a pushing or thrust position illustrated in full line configuration. The terminal oar structure 3% also includes a rowing or water-propelling portion 36 which is integrally formed with the thrust portion 31 at one end thereof and is of arcuate configuration. It will be noted that the water-propelling portion 36 is of concavo-convex cross sectional configuration so that this rowing portion extends outwardly or downwardly and laterally with respect to the rowing surface 15 of the oar blade 13 when the terminal oar structure 30 is in the This particular shape is also that of a racing or sculiing oar so that rowing with the oar when the terminal portion is in the rowing posiiton is made much easier. It will also be noted that the particular flat or thrust portion 31 extends transversely of the oar and is disposed substantially normal to the longitudinal axis of the oar when the terminal end structure 3% is in the pushing or thrust position.

Referring now to FIG. 4 it will be seen that there is a recess between ears 33 of hinge 34 and that a spring 37 is positioned therein for urging the terminal end structure to the rowing position and the particular convex surface of the water-propelling portion 36 cooperates with spring 37 to facilitate movement of the terminal end structure to this rowing position. It will also be noted that the terminal end structure 3t} is of integral construction and is also provided with a plurality of corrugations or ribs 38 thus permitting the structure to be formed of relatively light weight high strength material. The particular shape and. construction of the terminal end structures of bot-h of my embodiments are such that the overall weight of the oar is in no way increased to any degree.

Thus it will be seen from the foregoing description that I have provided a novel terminal oar construction readily adaptable for use'with conventional oars so that rowing with the oar is facilitated While also permitting the oar to be used as a push-pole. it will also be noted that my novel terminal oar structure is so arranged and constructed that when attached to an oar, the end of the oar is not only reinforced, but is protected in a manner to minimize breakage of the oar when pushing from a rock or striking a hard object. Thus it will be seen that l have provided a novel oar construction which is not only arranged and constructed for a multiplicity of func tions, but is of inexpensive and durable construction.

it will, of course, be understood that various changes may be made in the form, details, arrangement and proportions of the parts without departing from the scope of this invention which consists of the matter shown and described herein and set forth in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. Terminal oar structure for use in facilitating rowing with an car and also permitting the oar to be used as a push-pole, means for securing said terminal oar structure to the end of an oar of the type having an elongate handle and having a substantially flat blade, said terminal oar structure including a substantially flat water-propelling portion having upper and lower edges, said water-propelling portion extending downwardly and laterally from one surface of an oar blade when said terminal oar structure is attached to an oar so that the lowermost edge of the water-propelling portion is positioned in laterally spaced relation with the lower end of the oar blade, and a substantially fiat thrust portion having an edge thereof secured to the lowermost edge of said water-propelling portion and being disposed substantially normal to the longitudinal axis of said oar.

2. Oar construction comprising an elongate handle, a substantially fiat blade affixed to one end of said handle and having opposed rowing surfaces and a lower edge, terminal oar structure formed of corrugated metallic material and including a substantially fiat rowing portion having upper and lower edges, said rowing portion being attached adjacent its upper edge to one rowing surface of said oar blade and extending downwardly and outwardly from said surface and having its lowermost edge disposed in laterally spaced relation with respect to the lowermost edge of the oar blade, a substantially flat thrust portion having opposite edges one of which is integrally formed with the lowermost edge of said rowing portion, said thrust portion being disposed substantially normal to the longitudinal axis of said oar and having the other of said edge secured to said Oar blade.

3. Oar construction comprising an elongate handle, a substantially flat blade aiiixed to one end of said handle and having opposed rowing surfaces and a lower edge, terminal oar structure formed of corrugated metallic material including a substantially flat rowing portion having upper and lower edges, said rowing portion including an attachment strip integrally formed adjacent the uppermost edge thereof and being disposed in angulated relation with respect to the general plane of said rowing portion, said attachment portion being secured to one of the rowing surfaces of said oar blade so that said rowing portion extends downwardly and outwardly from said surface and having its lowermost edge disposed in laterally spaced relation with respect to the lowermost edge of the oar blade, a substantially flat thrust portion having opposite edges one of which is integrally formed with the lowermost edge of said rowing portion, said thrust portion being disposed substantially normal to the longitudinal axis of the oar and having an attachment strip integrally formed therewith adjacent the other of said edges, said attachment strip being disposed in angulated relation with respect to said thrust portion and being attached to the other of said rowing surfaces of said oar blade.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Jackson Mar. 18, 1952 

